The Lawrence school board on Monday will hear an update from administrators on their plans if the district must make up instructional hours after four snow days already this year.
All four came the first week of classes after winter break, which is of most concern to the district, given it’s early in the winter season, according to a report attached to the board’s meeting agenda.
Schools must meet a certain number of instructional hours per year to meet state minimums and keep their accreditation. The Kansas State Department of Education forgives local districts the same number of inclement weather hours or days they build into their calendars and use.
The district has one inclement weather makeup day on its board-approved calendar for 2024-25: Monday, April 21. According to the report, the district recommends planning to hold school that day.
The district also built more instructional time into its calendar for 2024-25 than last year’s and “is better positioned this year to navigate the impact of inclement weather days on annual instructional hour totals,” according to the report.
Additionally, KSDE may take action to support local districts given the winter storm impacted several Kansas schools the same as Lawrence.
“Given the significant impact of this January storm across Kansas, including that some Kansas districts have taken as much as four or five inclement weather days during January so far, it is possible that the state may consider some additional steps to support districts this year,” the report says.
Any adjustments to the school calendar related to inclement weather days will be announced no later than the start of spring break, March 14, according to the report. It also says the district will provide another monthly update to the board and community in February, or more frequently if necessary.
The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13 at district offices, 110 McDonald Drive.
Meetings are open to the public, livestreamed on the district’s YouTube channel, youtube.com/@USD497, and broadcast on Midco channel 26. Full meeting agendas are available on BoardDocs, via go.boarddocs.com.
To give public comment during the board meeting, sign up before the meeting starts either in person or by emailing PublicComment@usd497.org. Commenters may request to participate by Webex video/phone conferencing.
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Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
